Description:

Though U.S. leaders try to convince the world of their success in fighting al Qaeda, one anonymous member of the U.S. intelligence community would like to inform the public that we are, in fact, losing the war on terror. Further, until U.S. leaders recognize the errant path they have irresponsibly chosen, he says, our enemies will only grow stronger.

According to the author, the greatest danger for Americans confronting the Islamist threat is to believe—at the urging of U.S. leaders—that Muslims attack us for what we are and what we think rather than for what we do. Blustering political rhetoric “informs” the public that the Islamists are offended by the Western world’s democratic freedoms, civil liberties, inter-mingling of genders, and separation of church and state. However, although aspects of the modern world may offend conservative Muslims, no Islamist leader has fomented jihad to destroy participatory democracy, for example, the national association of credit unions, or coed universities.

Instead, a growing segment of the Islamic world strenuously disapproves of specific U.S. policies and their attendant military, political, and economic implications. Capitalizing on growing anti-U.S. animosity, Osama bin Laden’s genius lies not simply in calling for jihad, but in articulating a consistent and convincing case that Islam is under attack by America. Al Qaeda’s public statements condemn America’s protection of corrupt Muslim regimes, unqualified support for Israel, the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and a further litany of real-world grievances. Bin Laden’s supporters thus identify their problem and believe their solution lies in war. Anonymous contends they will go to any length, not to destroy our secular, democratic way of life, but to deter what they view as specific attacks on their lands, their communities, and their religion. Unless U.S. leaders recognize this fact and adjust their policies abroad accordingly, even moderate Muslims will join the bin Laden camp.

About the Author(s)/Editor(s)

Bestselling author Michael Scheuer is the former head of the CIA’s Bin Laden Unit and has two decades of experience in national security issues related to Afghanistan and South Asia. After resigning from the agency in November 2004, he revealed his authorship of Imperial Hubris (Brassey's, Inc., 2004) and Through Our Enemies' Eyes both originally published under the byline "Anonymous." Scheuer has been featured extensively on television, including 60 Minutes, and has been the focus of print media worldwide. He lives in the Washington, D.C., area.

Reviews/Endorsements:

"Anonymous is an extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and provocative thinker. His analysis and forecasts about Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda network, and terrorism in general are extremely insightful--not to mention accurate."
Faye Bowers, Christian Science Monitor

"A powerful, persuasive analysis of the terrorist threat and the Bush Administration's failed efforts to fight it . . . [The author's] criticism is damning. . . . Imperial Hubris is an important contribution to a necessary debate. . . ."
Richard A. Clarke (former national coordinator for security and counterterrorism) in Washington Post Book World

"Rare is the book that can change the course of an international debate, but Imperial Hubris is just such a book."
Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press

"This book is so valuable, it hardly seems that any review could do it justice. . . . All those concerned with our national security would do well to take up this book. We cannot know the many services the author has rendered to our country in his intelligence role, but I suspect that Imperial Hubris--a work of supreme integrity--may be his greatest contribution of all.
Ralph Peters, retired Army intelligence officer and author of Beyond Baghdad? Postmodern War and Peace

"A sprawling, erudite book on the origins and present state of the 'war on terror' . . . Gripping."Publishers Weekly

"Now the definitive book on terrorism has appeared that should be mandatory reading for every thinking person. . . . A goldmine of information and brilliant analysis. It breaks taboos and sweeps away the clouds of lies about al Qaeda, Iraq, and Afghanistan."Toronto Sun

"Pulls few punches . . . and gives us a fascinating window on America’s war with Al Qaeda."
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

"[The author’s] conclusions are as disquieting as his policy prescriptions are compelling. . . . Imperial Hubris is destined to become a classic in the field of counterterrorism analysis."
Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside Terrorism

"No serious observer of the war on terrorism can ignore this scathing critique of the Bush administration’s policies. . . ."
Peter Bergen, author of Holy War, Inc.

"A rapid-fire, plain-spoken polemic stated with conviction and passion . . . Michael Scheuer's tough-minded and honest book is a much-needed antidote to the shallow and often deceptive information doled out by our elites and by the American media."Chronicles

"This is an insightful, bitter, worrisome book. It is also the most consequential critique of the war on terror yet published, deeply historical, broadly researched, and crisply articulated. . . . Like it or hate it, no substantial debate about the war on terrorism can now take place without references to this book and its ideas. . . . The author's insights into al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and Islam's antipathy toward the United States are brilliantly presented. . . . The author's professional expertise and deep knowledge of his subject jump from every page. . . . Imperial Hubris has to be read by every serious military leader or thinker." Parameters

"A bold attack on the U.S. antiterrorism and intelligence machinery, one that is likely to provoke strong reactions on one side or another. But the attack is always thought-provoking. . . . Anyone interested in an insider's view of the intelligence community, including the failures of the CIA, the FBI, the White House, and the State Department, will want to read this provocative work." Security Management

"Anonymous is an extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and provocative thinker. His analysis and forecasts about Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda network, and terrorism in general are extremely insightful--not to mention accurate."
Faye Bowers, Christian Science Monitor

"A powerful, persuasive analysis of the terrorist threat and the Bush Administration's failed efforts to fight it . . . [The author's] criticism is damning. . . . Imperial Hubris is an important contribution to a necessary debate. . . ."
Richard A. Clarke (former national coordinator for security and counterterrorism) in Washington Post Book World

"Rare is the book that can change the course of an international debate, but Imperial Hubris is just such a book."
Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press

"This book is so valuable, it hardly seems that any review could do it justice. . . . All those concerned with our national security would do well to take up this book. We cannot know the many services the author has rendered to our country in his intelligence role, but I suspect that Imperial Hubris--a work of supreme integrity--may be his greatest contribution of all.
Ralph Peters, retired Army intelligence officer and author of Beyond Baghdad? Postmodern War and Peace

"A sprawling, erudite book on the origins and present state of the 'war on terror' . . . Gripping."Publishers Weekly

"Now the definitive book on terrorism has appeared that should be mandatory reading for every thinking person. . . . A goldmine of information and brilliant analysis. It breaks taboos and sweeps away the clouds of lies about al Qaeda, Iraq, and Afghanistan."Toronto Sun

"Pulls few punches . . . and gives us a fascinating window on America’s war with Al Qaeda."
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

"[The author’s] conclusions are as disquieting as his policy prescriptions are compelling. . . . Imperial Hubris is destined to become a classic in the field of counterterrorism analysis."
Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside Terrorism

"No serious observer of the war on terrorism can ignore this scathing critique of the Bush administration’s policies. . . ."
Peter Bergen, author of Holy War, Inc.

"A rapid-fire, plain-spoken polemic stated with conviction and passion . . . Michael Scheuer's tough-minded and honest book is a much-needed antidote to the shallow and often deceptive information doled out by our elites and by the American media."Chronicles

"This is an insightful, bitter, worrisome book. It is also the most consequential critique of the war on terror yet published, deeply historical, broadly researched, and crisply articulated. . . . Like it or hate it, no substantial debate about the war on terrorism can now take place without references to this book and its ideas. . . . The author's insights into al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and Islam's antipathy toward the United States are brilliantly presented. . . . The author's professional expertise and deep knowledge of his subject jump from every page. . . . Imperial Hubris has to be read by every serious military leader or thinker." Parameters

"A bold attack on the U.S. antiterrorism and intelligence machinery, one that is likely to provoke strong reactions on one side or another. But the attack is always thought-provoking. . . . Anyone interested in an insider's view of the intelligence community, including the failures of the CIA, the FBI, the White House, and the State Department, will want to read this provocative work." Security Management

Table of Contents:

Author’s NotePreface: “Hubris Followed by Defeat”AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Thoughts on the Power of Focused, Principled HatredChapter I: The Fatal Delay: 11 September-7 October 2001. Chapter II: An Ignorant Lunge To Defeat: The United States in AfghanistanChapter III: Not Down, Not Out: Al-Qaeda’s Resiliency, Expansion, and MomentumChapter IV: The World’s View of Bin Laden: A Muslim Leader and Hero Coming Into Focus?Chapter V: Bin Laden Views the World: Some Old, Some New, and a TwistChapter VI: Blinding Hubris Abounding: Inflicting Defeat on Ourselves - Non-War, Leaks, and Missionary DemocracyChapter VII: When the Enemy Sets the Stage: How America’s Stubborn Obtuseness Helps Its FoesChapter VIII: Preparing for War: Know the Enemy, Debate Everything, Kill the Generals, and Put Away the Warrants.Chapter IX: The Way Ahead: A Few SuggestionsEpilogue